Cuz to play for Coburg this week
richmondfc.com.au
By Mic Cullen 5:20 PM Thu 30 April, 2009
BEN Cousins will step out in the VFL for Coburg on Saturday and could be just one game away from an AFL return.
The 30-year-old hasn’t played since he tore his hamstring more than a month ago in the Tigers round one loss to Carlton.
Richmond football manager Ross Monaghan said Cousins would play almost a full game for Coburg.
"He'll play in blocks of time, and he'll end up with about 60 or 70 per cent of game time," Monaghan told richmondfc.com.au on Thursday afternoon.
"He's been training really really well, he just needs a bit more match practice, and he'll certainly get that playing for Coburg."
Monaghan said the way Cousins got through the game and recovered would be major factors in where he played next weekend.
"Absolutely – we'd be crystal-balling a little bit with what might occur next week, because it largely depends on how he gets through the game, how he feels and responds early next week,” he said.
"We'll just wait and see on that one."
Joining Cousins at Coburg for the match against the Casey Scorpions will be young midfielder Trent Cotchin, ruckman Troy Simmonds and forward Kane Pettifer, who has played a couple of games for the Coburg reserves on his way back from a knee reconstruction.
Andrew Raines, Shane Edwards and Jay Schulz – who has booted 10 goals in the past two weeks for the Burgers – have been included on an extended Richmond squad which boasts an unchanged 22.
So that trio could also play for Coburg if they don't travel to Sydney with the AFL team.
For Casey, Jack Watts is in line to make his senior VFL debut, and if he does, could play alongside Russell Robertson, Austin Wonaeamirri and Matthew Whelan.
The game will be played at ABD Group Stadium in Russell Street, Coburg, starting at 1:10pm.
It will also be broadcast live on ABC TV.
http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/blogarticle/tabid/14215/newsid/75989/default.aspx
